Manufacture of glass sheets.



No. 798,643. PATENTED SEPT. 5, 1905.

P. L. O. WADSWORTH.

MANUFACTURE OF GLASS SHEETS.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 16, 1903.

WITNESSES 7% M mvsmon PATENT ()FFICE.

FRANK L. O. \YADSWORTH. OF ALLEGHENY, PENNSYLVANIA.

MANUFACTURE OF GLASS SHEETS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 5, 1905.

Application filed June 16,1903. Serial No. 161,658.

To (6 IIlI/lllb 'i/ 71mg concern:

Be it known that l FRANK b. O. VANS- wou'ru. of Allegheny Alleghenycounty. Pennsylvania. have invented a new and useful lmprovement in theM ami'facture of Glass Sheets. of which the following is a full, clear.and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 shows inlongitudinal section apparatus for the practice of my invention. Fig. '2is a partial cross-section on a larger scale. Fig. 3 is a sectionaldetail view showing the construction of the bars of thepressing-surface. Fig. l is a detail view showing a modifiedconstruction of the flexible pressing-surface. Fig. 5 is a longitudinalsection showing a modified construction of the apparatus.

The purpose of my invention is to form glass sheets by rolling. Itenables me to roll such sheets of better surface than heretofore, and itis of especial importance in the manufacture of figured or prismsheet-glass. in which it enables me to make thin sheets of greaterlength than has been possible by other methods and to preserve theprism-pattern during the cooling of the glass distinct and sharplydefined.

The invention consists in a method of forming glass sheets bysimultaneously rolling and positively pressing the sheet from a mass ofmolten glass. The rolling forms the sheet and the pressing holds it asit is formed.

In Figs. 1 and 2, in which I show one form of apparatus for practicingmy invention. 2 is the table on which the sheet is rolled, and 3 is theroll. which is mounted upon raised portious f of the table and can becausedto travel thereover either by hand or by the application ofsuitable driving mechanism in the ordinary way. 5 is a flexiblepressing-surface, which when used for the manufacture of prism-glass. asshown'in Figs. l, 2. and 3, is made up of a series of parallelprism-shaped bars set side by side and connected by flexible metalstrips6 or inanyother suitable way. The pressing-surface thus constituted isattached to the table at 7 and passes under and around the roll. itsotherend being preferably supported by a cord 8, which passes around apulley 5) and is kept taut by a weight 10. At the ends of the prism-bars5 5 are projecting rollers or pins 11, adapted to extend unde r pressers12. which are connected with the roll or the roll-frame at the ends ofthe roll and travel therewith. Each presser 12 is held down. so as topress against the pins 11 either by gravity of the presser or by itsgravity supplemented by spring-backed gibs 13, connected to the presserand provided with rollers H, which travel on the under side of a ledgeon the table or in contact with other suitable resistanee-piece.

In the practice of my invention the roll 3 is retracted to the rear endof the table 2. and a body of plastic glass 15 is placed in front of theroll. The roll is then caused to move forward. and as it travels itflattens the glass into the form of a sheet. and the flexiblepressi.ngsurface 5 which is between the roll and the glass issimultaneously pressed into or against the glass, and the portions ofsaid surface behind the roll are held against the glass by the pressureexerted by the roll and by the pressers 12 as they travel over theglass. It will thus be seen that the glass is simultaneously rolled andflattened by the roll and pressed by the flexible pressing-surface andthat as it is rolled it is held by the pressing-sitrface, and theprism-pattern on the glass is preserved distinct during the cooling andsetting of the glass. The finished surface of the sheet will thereforebe clearly defined. and as the forming and holding of the prisni-patternproceeds simultaneously with its rolling f can make the sheet of anydesired length and can reduce it to any desired thinness by adjustingthe distance of separation between the periphery of the roll and thesurface of the table.

In Fig. -l l show the flexible pressing-surface modified so as to adaptit for the manufacture of sheetglass with a plain surface or with asurface figured with a pattern of little depth. In this case thepressing-surface is preferably constituted by a steel sheet 16, which isstrengthened by bars 16, attached to its outer surface. This sheet maybe plain or may have a shallow figure, as desired. [ts action is similarto that of the pressing-surface of Fig. 1 in that it holds the glasssheet as it is rolled and flattened.

in Fig. 5 I show a modification of the apparatus in which instead of theflexible pressing-surface I employ pneumatic pressure for holding thesheet during the rolling operation. in this case l employ two rolls 17and 18, mounted in a frame 1!), which incloses the space between therolls and the edges of the table, so as to form an inclosed chamber B,and for this purpose it bears upon the peripheries of the rolls, thecrevices being sealed by packing 20. A pipe 21, leading from a source ofcompressed air, discharges into the chamber B, and when the rolls arepassed over the glass the forward roll flattens the glass into a sheet,and the pneumatic pressure simultaneously exerted upon the sheet withinthe chamber B holds the sheet against the table 2 as it is formed. Thispressure is exerted at all points in a direction perpendicular to thesurface of the formed sheet and acts practically the same as astationary die-surface to maintain the sheet in contact with the surfaceof the table. The surface of the table 2 may be plain or figured, asdesired. The frame 19 has lateral ex tensions which bear upon the sideedges of the table and a rearward extension 19, which bears upon therear end of the table, with an interposed packing-strip 20, so that atthe beginning of the operation, before the roller 18 reaches the glass,the chamber B may be closed in such manner that the airpressure can beimmediately exerted upon the glass at the beginning of the rollingoperation.

Other modifications of the apparatus will suggest themselves to thoseskilled in the art.

I claim 1. The method of forming glass sheets, which consists in rollinga sheet from plastic glass, thereby applying pressure to the rolledportions, and maintaining the pressure thus applied on said rolledportions after they have been shaped; substantially as described.

2. The method of forming glass sheets, which consists in rolling a sheetfrom a mass of plastic material and thereby applying to the sheet aflexible pressing-surface extending between the sheet and the rollingdevice, and thereafter maintaining said pressingsurface in contact withthe sheet; substantially as described.

3. The method of forming glass sheets, which consists in rolling thesheet from a mass of plastic material, simultaneously applying thereto aflexible pressing-surface extending between the sheet and the rollingdevice, and maintaining the pressure thus applied throughout theportions of the sheet in the rear of the rolling device; substantiallyas described.

4. The method of forming prism-sheets, which consists in rolling a glasssheet from a mass of plastic material and thereby applying a pressingand prism-holding surface to the sheet and maintaining saidprism-holding surface in contact with the entire surface of the rolledsheet after it has been shaped; substantiallyas described.

5. The method of forming glass sheets, which consists in rolling thesheets from plastic glass, and simultaneous with the rolling operationapplying pressure to the rolled portions, by surfaces which when incontact with the glass are practically stationary relatively thereto andmaintaining substantially the rolled pressure during the setting of theglass; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

FRANK L. O. WADSWVORTH.

Witnesses:

THOMAS W. BAKEWELL, JOHN MILLER.

